HTML Entity for Uppercase E Open (ɛ)

Beginner
⏱️ 5 min read
📚 Updated: Jun 2026
🎯 1 Code Example
Unicode U+025B
HTML Entity for Uppercase E Open tutorial illustration

What You'll Learn

How to display the open e (ɛ) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. In Unicode this is U+025B (LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E), the IPA symbol for the open-mid front unrounded vowel. It sits in the IPA Extensions block.

Render it with ɛ, ɛ, or CSS escape \25B. There is no named HTML entity for this character, so numeric codes or CSS must be used.

⚡ Quick Reference — Uppercase E Open Entity

Unicode U+025B

IPA Extensions

Hex Code ɛ

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ɛ

Decimal reference

Named Entity —

No named entity

Reference Table
Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+025B
Hex code       ɛ
HTML code      ɛ
Named entity   (none)
CSS code       \25B
Meaning        Latin small letter open e (IPA open e)
IPA meaning    Open-mid front unrounded vowel
Related        U+0190 = Ɛ (capital open E); U+0259 = schwa (ə)
Block          IPA Extensions (U+0250–U+02AF)
1

Complete HTML Example

A simple example showing the open e (ɛ) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape:

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\25B";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Symbol (hex): &#x025B;</p>
<p>Symbol (decimal): &#603;</p>
<p id="point">Symbol (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>
Try it Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

The open e (ɛ) renders correctly in modern browsers when UTF-8 is used and the font supports IPA Extensions:

Chrome1+
Firefox1+
Safari1+
Edge12+
Opera4+
Android4.4+
iOS Safari1+

👀 Live Preview

See the open e (ɛ) in phonetic and linguistic contexts:

Large glyphɛ
IPA examplebed [bɛd]
Vowel chartOpen-mid front: ɛ
Not the same asE (U+0045)   ə schwa   Ɛ capital open E
Numeric refs&#x025B; &#603; \25B

🧠 How It Works

1

Hexadecimal Code

&#x025B; uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 025B to display the open e. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.

HTML markup
2

Decimal HTML Code

&#603; uses the decimal Unicode value 603 to display the same character. A common method for IPA Extensions characters.

HTML markup
3

CSS Entity

\25B is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.

CSS stylesheet
=

Same visual result

All three methods produce the glyph: ɛ. Unicode U+025B sits in IPA Extensions. There is no named HTML entity. Do not confuse with ə (schwa) or plain E (U+0045).

✅

Use Cases

The open e (ɛ) is commonly used in:

🔤 Phonetic transcription

IPA notation for the vowel in words like “bed” [bɛd] in many English dialects.

📚 Linguistics

Language documentation, comparative linguistics, and phonology research.

📄 IPA documentation

Charts, tutorials, and reference pages explaining the International Phonetic Alphabet.

🎤 Pronunciation guides

Dictionary entries and language-learning apps showing correct vowel quality.

📝 Academic papers

Scholarly publications in phonetics, speech science, and language acquisition.

🎨 Typography

Specialized fonts and character-set demos showcasing IPA Extensions glyphs.

🔍 Search & SEO

Correct rendering so phonetic and linguistic content can be found and indexed.

💡 Best Practices

Do

  • Use &#603; or &#x025B; in HTML (no named entity exists)
  • Serve pages as UTF-8; you can also type ɛ directly in UTF-8 source
  • Use IPA-capable fonts (e.g. Doulos SIL, Charis SIL) for reliable glyph display
  • Distinguish ɛ (open e) from ə (schwa) and plain E
  • Pick one numeric style (hex or decimal) per project for consistency

Don’t

  • Assume a named entity exists—there is none for ɛ
  • Substitute plain e or E when ɛ is required in IPA
  • Put CSS escape \25B in HTML text nodes
  • Use padded Unicode notation like U+0025B—the correct value is U+025B
  • Use \0025B in CSS—the correct escape is \25B

Key Takeaways

1

Three references render ɛ (no named entity)

&#x025B; &#603;
2

For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property

\25B
3

Unicode U+025B — LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E (IPA open e)

4

Essential for phonetic transcriptions, IPA charts, and linguistic content

5

Previous: Uppercase E Ogonek (Ę)   Next: Uppercase E Open Reverse (ɜ)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Use &#x025B; (hex), &#603; (decimal), or \25B in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity for this character.
U+025B (LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E). IPA Extensions block. Hex 025B, decimal 603. Used in IPA phonetic transcriptions and linguistic notation.
In phonetic transcriptions, IPA documentation, linguistic studies, pronunciation guides, and academic content that requires the open-mid front vowel symbol.
HTML code (&#603; or &#x025B;) is used in HTML content. The CSS entity (\25B) is used in CSS, e.g. in the content property of pseudo-elements. Both produce ɛ but in different contexts.
No. There is no named HTML entity for ɛ. Use &#603; or &#x025B; in HTML, or \25B in CSS. This is standard for IPA Extensions characters.

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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Uppercase E Ogonek (Ę) Uppercase E Open Reverse (ɜ)